With almost 35 000 inhabitants, Santa Cruz is the Colchagua valley town that has experienced major changes in recent years. This is due to its importance as one of the largest supplies and services cities for businesses and residents of this great agricultural valley, Santa Cruz has become to a tourism development center that has experienced this valley over the last decade.

Santa Cruz is small but warm and welcoming. Also it is the center where you can visit the best attractions of Colchagua.

Situated as the hub of vineyards, one of the biggest attractions of Colchagua Valley, Santa Cruz and its environs have excellent hotels both for demanding public, and for those looking for something cheaper. It has the Colchagua museum, the largest private museum in Chile and internationally recognized for his very interesting collections. It also has many restaurants, pubs, accommodation of various kinds, equestrian activities and other attractions both in town and nearby areas.

Finally, in Santa Cruz is Colchagua Wine Route office, which belongs to Colchagua vineyards, a company that brings together the best Colchagua valley vineyards. This office serves as tour operator for vineyards, information center and has a full wine shop partner of their vineyards.

How to get there

From Rancagua, continue on 5 sur route to San Fernando on north entrance, cross O'Higgins Avenue and take I-50 route (Wine Road) until Santa Cruz entrance by Paniahue. Buses from Santiago and Rancagua terminals.

Activities and Attractions

Colchagua Museum was implemented with the concept of traveling mankind and planet history through the prism of American reality. With a variety of collections that has collected  its founder, Mr Carlos Cardoen Cornejo, illustrated paleontological, archeology, pre-Columbian art, History of the Conquest, Colony and Independence of Chile and America to Republican period issues. It also includes thematic pavilions about modernity, history and weapons development, huaso tools, musical instruments, cars, carriages, agricultural machinery and railways pavilion. This places is the largest and most varied private museum in Latin America. The Museum is inserted in Santa Cruz downtown.

Colchagua valley in 2005 obtained a recognition as a "Wine Region of the Year" by the Wine Enthusiast magazine, this award was in response to excellent quality of soil, a perfect microclimate for growing grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, also in Colchagua valley can enjoy a lost in Europe variety called Carmenere, unique in the world.

Through guidelines and programs you can discover the best wineries and charming Santa Cruz ranchs such as recognized Lapostolle vineyard (Clos Apalta), which won the award for best red wine in the world in 2009, also can visit old estates of late nineteenth century as Viu Manent vineyard and Neyen with  1890 Cabernet Sauvignon vines. Finally there are modern and contemporary architecture vinyards like Las Niñas.

Santa Cruz offers the best challenges to travelers who visit. In Colchagua valley can find new trekking circuits at the best vineyards like Botanic trail of Montes vineyard or the unique viewpoint of Las Niñas vineyard.

Horseback ridings around Colchagua valley and Los Andes that integrate environment, culture and traditions in a safe and fun way for whole family.

Through guided bike tours you can visit the unique places that  Santa Cruz and the Colchagua valley give, such as vineyards, city tours and mountain experiences in Los Andes. Each circuit or tour with first class equipment, mountain bikes, routers, GPS systems and first aid tools.

A vineyard or a beach can be a perfect setting to relax and know Santa Cruz and surrounding areas. Both Santa Cruz and along Colchagua valley can find agencies and vineyards offering host service for a country day surrounded by beautiful scenery and local cuisine prepared with the freshest ingredients that valley and its surrounding area offer.